Grays Harbor checkers are IMCA Modified first for Scherer

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (April 17) – Engines fired up for the first time in 2021 at Grays Harbor Raceway on Saturday with 21 IMCA Modifieds contesting the evening’s main event.  Tyson Blood moved his way into first place on the first lap. Devan West hunted down Blood in lapped traffic and overtook him for the lead. However, the pass was negated due to a yellow flag coming out before the lap could get registered, handing the top spot back to Blood. Several late-race restarts turned up the intensity for Blood. A lap 23 restart resumed the race and set up an opportunity for Grey Ferrando to have a shot at the coveted position. Despite starting all the way back in 18th, Ferrando worked his way patiently and methodically towards the front. As the white flag dropped, Ferrando found the opening he needed to challenge Blood.  The two raced each other hard but it was Ferrando who had the advantage coming off the second corner and down the back straightaway. Ferrando went on to become the first driver to [Read More]

ELMA, Wash. – Bragging rights are at stake on opening night of Grays Harbor Raceway’s July 23 and 24 Shipwreck Beads IMCA Modified Nationals. Bragging rights, $2,500 and a berth on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational are on the line on night two. Previous Nationals winners and track champions comprise Friday’s $500 to win race of champions field. They’ll be among the contenders for Saturday’s big check at Elma’s 22nd annual special. “We hope to pull drivers from as far away as California and Arizona,” said promoter Bert Johnson. “There are a lot of bragging rights involved but this is really a fun event. We went back to the original two-day race format in 2015 and it’s worked very well for us.” The sanctioned special is the first held in Washington State since Grays Harbor returned to IMCA sanctioning this season. All drivers will run two qualifying heats on Friday, with the starting order reversed for the second heat. Last-chance races precede Saturday’s main event. Entry fee is $80 and pit passes are $35. Pit gates [Read More]

By Stephanie Deatherage  ELMA, Wash. (May 1) – Grey Ferrando collected his second feature win in as many 2021 starts at Grays Harbor Raceway, topping the 24-car field of IMCA Modifieds Saturday night.  Tom Sweatman was the first car to lead the field at the start-finish line. Sweatman held onto the position until lap five when Brenton Schnitzer made the pass. Schnitzer  set a rapid pace but had an unfortunate stroke of bad luck when he had a flat left front tire and came to a halt on lap nine. This gave the first place position back to Sweatman.  Sweatman was challenged by Ferrando and Blair Shoemaker before slowing and then coming to a halt on lap 12. New leader Ferrando was not out of the woods yet as he had to deal with several restarts and cautions.  With all the stop-and-go action, Shoemaker tried to challenge Grey but was unable to overtake him. Ferrando, who started in twelfth, held on to win his second straight main event at GHR and in KMJ Performance Washington State competition.   Shoemaker was [Read More]